PITTSBURGH STEELERS
2021 Record - 9-7-1
Head Coach - Mike Tomlin
New Additions - Mitch Trubisky (QB), Myles Jack (LB), Mason Cole (OL), James Daniels (OL), Gunner Olszewski (WR), Levi Wallace (DB)
Offensive Rank in 2021 - 23rd (315 YPG); Scoring - 21st (20.2 PPG)
Defensive Rank in 2021 - 24th (361 YPG); Scoring - 20th (23.4 PPG)
The Steelers have Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph and top rookie pick Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh) battling for the starting quarterback position for the upcoming season. Najee Harris (1,200 rushing yards, 3.9 YPC average, seven touchdowns and 74 receptions for 467 yards and three TD) is the top running back with Benny Snell, Jr. backing him up. The wide receivers are Diontae Johnson (107 receptions, 1,161 yards and eight TD), Chase Claypool (59, 860, two TD) and rookie George Pickens (Georgia) or Miles Boykin. The tight end is Pat Freiermuth, who had 60 receptions for 497 yards and seven touchdowns.
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt leads the defense and he had 22 1/2 quarterback sacks last season while defensive end Cameron Heyward (ten sacks) anchors the front line. Linebackers Devin Bush and newcomer Myles Jack (108 tackles with Jacksonville) will be on hand as well. The secondary has safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick (two interceptions and team high 124 tackles last year) and Terrell Edmiunds (two INT) while Levi Wallace (two INT with the Bills), Justin Layne, Cameron Sutton (two picks) and Ahkello Witherspoon (three INT) play the corner positions.
Outlook for 2022 season - After 18 seasons with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, the Steelers will have a new face leading the offense following Big Ben's retirement. Head Coach Mike Tomlin is entering his 16th season in that role with Pittsburgh and he knows things will need to get going with the new signal caller.
The running game showed steady improvement once Najee Harris got it going and will look for him to keep moving forward this year. The wide receivers have two decent players with Johnson and Claypool and will add (rookie) George Pickens to the mix to help balance the offense. The Steelers know things can improve after averaging only 20 points per game last season and it will be up to the new quarterback to make it happen.
On defense, the Steelers were the worst team in the NFL defending the run (146 YPG allowed) last season and will need the front line to step it up in 2022. Meanwhile, the pass defense was in the top ten in the league and they led the NFL in sacks a year ago, thanks in large part to Watt's record setting season. With run oriented teams in their division (Cleveland and Baltimore), it's important to stop the run and pressure the quarterback, so improvement from the front line is essential.
The Steelers squeaked into the playoffs last year thanks to a tie game they had in mid-season and the fact the last game of the season didn't end in a tie. But it almost did until a fortunate break gave the Raiders a last second win over the Chargers. The Steelers got smoked in the wild card game and now heading into the new season, they must answer the questions that surrounded them after their playoff exit and Roethlisberger's retirement.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Cincinnati
Week Two - vs. New England
Week Three - at Cleveland
Week Four - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week Five - at Buffalo
Week Six - vs. Tampa Bay
Week Seven - at Miami
Week Eight - at Philadelphia
Week Nine - BYE
Week Ten - vs. New Orleans
Week Eleven - vs. Cincinnati
Week Twelve - at Indianapolis
Week Thirteen - at Atlanta
Week Fourteen - vs. Baltimore
Week Fifteen - at Carolina
Week Sixteen - vs. Las Vegas
Week Seventeen - at Baltimore
Week Eighteen - vs. Cleveland
No comments:
Post a Comment